Winged device

ABSTRACT

A winged device comprising at least two wings which are normally disposed about a central shaft in substantially equal angular intervals for flight, but which can be rotated into substantial congruence in order to permit the device to be launched. Tension members are connected between the wings in order to position them at the substantially equal angular intervals.

Unite States atent [1 1 Hyde [ Jan. 14, 1975 WINGED DEVICE [76] Inventor: Thomas A. Hyde, 7 University Mews, Philadelphia, Pa. 19104 [22] Filed: Jan. 5, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 215,596

52 us. (:1. 244/138 A, 46/82 51 Int. Cl. B64d 19/02, A63h 27/00 [58] Field Of Search 244/6, 7 A, 7 R, 138 A, 244/138 R, 17.11; 46/50, 60, 70, 75, 80, 82; 416/143 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 692,608 2/1902 Bristow 46/82 1,461,768 7/l923 Wisch et al. 416/143 2,008,843 7/1935 Smith 244/6 1/1937 Smith 244/17.1l

2,078,374 4/1937 Drobniewsky 46/80 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,161,026 8/1958 France 46/75 Primary Examiner-George E. A. Halvosa Assistant ExaminerSherman D. Basinger Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Seidel, Gonda & Goldhamm'er [57] ABSTRACT A winged device comprising at least two wings which are normally disposed about a central shaft in substantially equal angular intervals for flight, but which can be rotated into substantial congruence in order to permit the device to be launched. Tension members are connected between the wings in order to position them at the substantially equal angular intervals.

8 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PAIENIED W 3,860,203

- SHEET 1 BF 2 45 FIG. 2 0

WINGED DEVICE This invention relates to flying devices, and more particularly, to a winged device having a plurality of wings which are adapted to be rotated from a configuration where they are in substantial congruence to a configuration where they are disposed in substantially equal angular intervals about a central axis.

The device disclosed and claimed herein can be used as an actual operational soft landing device for landing men and equipment on a surface enclosed by an atmosphere.

Additionally, it can be constructed for use as a childs toy.

It relies upon a wing configuration which is substantially the same as that found in nature, namely, a maple tree seed. However, the wings which comprise the device disclosed herein are altered from that configuration in order to achieve the intended purpose.

Thus, when used as a toy, the wings of the device may be rotated into substantial congruence and retained in that configuration temporarily. While in this configuration, the device may be thrown into the air or may be dropped. After an appropriate interval, the device will assume its normal flying configuration and rotate to a soft landing. If desired, means may be provided for permitting the device to continue to rotate after it has struck the ground so that the energy of rotation can be dissipated. Further, the device can be enjoyed as a top during this interval.

When the device is used for soft landing, the ability of its wings to be rotated into substantial congruence permits storage and retention of the device in a relatively confined area while assuring that the wings will assume their appropriate configuration for flying.

Accordingly, the invention relates to a winged device having at least two wings where each of the wings comprises a hub portion and an airfoil portion. The wings are interconnected by a shaft which extends through apertures in their hubs. The wings are rotatable. into substantial congruence with each other, and means are provided for displacing the wings from their substantial congruence into a position where they are in equal angular intervals about the shaft.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, presently preferred forms of the invention are shown in the drawings. It is understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown and wherein FIG. 1 is a plan view of a winged device wherein all of the wings are in substantial congruence.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 1 and being somewhat enlarged.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view similar to the lefthand portion of FIG. 2, but showing the detail of the means for retaining the wings in substantial congruence.

FIG. 6 is a view similiar to FIG. 1, but showing the device with the wings extended in configuration for flying.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 77 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of area 8 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a side elevation view of the winged device in its flying configuration being supported on a landing surface.

FIGS. 10 and 11 are views of winged devices with the number of wings being different than that shown in the other figures.

FIG. 1 shows one form of the winged device 10 with the wings folded into substantial congruence with each other. The winged device includes a plurality of wings 12 (FIGS. 6, 10 and 11) which comprise hub portions 14 and airfoil portions 16. Each of the airfoil portions comprises a leading edge 18 and a main wing portion 20.

The wings may be comprised of any convenient configuration. However, it is preferred that the wings have a configuration which corresponds generally to that of a maple tree seed. To this extent,the hub and leading edge are comprised of substantially rigid material. Such material could be wood, plastic, or metal. If desired, the leading edge 18 and the hub portion 14-could be integral. Wings of identical appearance will operate satisfactory without regard to their internal structure or the nature of the hub restraint.

The main portion 20 of the wing is comprised of a relatively flexible sheet of material such as plastic, or the like which is secured to both the leading edge 18 and the hub portion 14. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the main portion of the wing 20 may be secured in the leading edge 18 by being received in a slot 22. A similar arrangement may be made for joining the main portion of the wing to the hub. However, the nature of the joint is not critical.

As best seen in FIG. 1, each of the hub portions 14 is relatively large, and has an aperture 24 disposed substantially at its midportion. Thewings 12 are assembled on shaft 26 which is inserted'through their respective apertures 24. Preferably, suitable bearings 30 are provided to permit relative rotation between adjacent wings and between the wings and the shaft 26. Suitable constraining means 32 are provided for preventing axial movement of the wings relative to shaft 26. Such constraining means may comprise lock washers, nuts,

cotter pins, or any other suitable means.

Preferably the ends 28 of shaft 26 extend beyond the restraining member 32 on at least one side of the device to provide a landing gear as will be explained in detail herein.

Referring now to FIG. 6, a three-winged device is illustrated in its normal flying configuration. Wings 12 are disposed in substantially equal angular intervals about shaft 26. This configuration is achieved by virtue of tension members 34. It should be noted that one less tension member than the number of wings provided is necessary. This feature, which substantially simplifies the construction of the device, will be explained below.

Each of the wings 12 which is to be connected to a tension member is provided with a first juncture 36 which may comprise an elongated slot in hub portion 14 and a second juncture 40 preferably, disposed along the leading edge 18 of the wing at its tip.

While the tension members could be of any convenient configuration, it is preferred that they comprise resilient elongated members. Such members could be rubber bands in the case of a toy, or, resilient cables made of a suitable synthetic material in the case of a soft landing device. As is apparent, the juncture of the tension member and slot 36 is critical to the proper positioning of the wings at substantially equal angular intervals about the shaft 26. As seen in FIGS. 6, l and 11, that juncture lies on a line which passes through juncture 40 and shaft 26. Hence, each of the tension members is at a position where the tension in it is at a minimum. This can be made clear by referring to FIG. 6 and observing that the length of tension member 34 would be increased if wings A and B were rotated relative to each other. In other words lines passing through each of the tension members 34 intersect at a point which is coaxial with the axis of rotation when their tension is at a minimum.

The device can be stored in a configuration wherein all of the wings are folded into substantial congruence with each other. This configuration is best seen in FIGS. l-5. Such folding is permitted because the wings are rotatable relative to each other and relative to shaft 26 against the force of the tension members 34. Suitable means may be provided for temporarily constraining the wings in the folded configuration. Such means could comprise a locking and timing mechanism in the instance of a soft landing vehicle. On the other hand, when the device is used as a toy, a simple mechanism which will be explained in detail below can be utilized. Thus, each hub may support a substantially radially directed pin 44 in alignment with the leading edge of its respective wing. The pins 44 are positioned so that when the device is folded (FIG. 1), all of the pins are in alignment with each other. An elongated resilient member 46 which may be a rubber band, if desired, may be stretched and wrapped around the pins 44 as illustrated in FIG. 5.

When the device is hurled into the air, the resilient member 46 will unwind from the pins 44 after a short interval. Then, under the force of tension members 34 which have been stretched to a relatively high-degree the ends 28 of shaft 26 as illustrated in FIG. 9. The end on which it is to land can be predetermined by weighting that end. Hence, it will continue to rotate for a short interval after striking the earth on end 28 until the rotational energy of the device is dissipated.

Winged device of the type disclosed can be made with any convenient number of wings. It is to be noted with respect to forms of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 6, l0 and 11 wherein devices having respectively two, three and four wings are shown that the juncture of the hub and tension device lies along a straight line connecting shaft 26 and notch 40. This assures that the wings will be positioned at predetermined angular intervals which are characterized by the fact that the tension members 34 are at their positions of least tension. Additionally, it should be noted that under some operating circumstances it may be preferred to weight the device. The addition of weight will result in an in creased speed of rotation and, hence, a more stable device.

While the invention has been described with reference to certain forms thereof, it is apparent that many other forms and embodiments would be obvious to those skilled in the view of the foregoing description. Thus, the scope of the invention should not be limited by that description, but rather, only by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. A winged rotating device comprising two wings, each of said wings comprising a hub portion and an air foil portion, a shaft defining anaxis of rotation for said wings and for said rotating device, an aperture in, each of said hub portions for receiving said shaft, at least one of said wings being rotatable about said shaft into substantial congruence with the other of said wings, means for displacing said wings from said substantial congruence, self-releasing means for temporarily retaining said wings in said substantial congruence against the force of said displacing means, said self-releasing means comprising a pin projecting from each of said wings, said pins being in mutual alignment when said wings are in substantial congruence and an elongated resilient member adapted to be wrapped around said pins, said displacing means being operative to position said wings at substantially equal angular intervals about said shaft so that said wings support said device for rotation about said axis of rotation as said device descends.

2. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said displacing means comprises a resilient tension member, said tension member having one portion connected to one of said wings at a first juncture, another portion connected to said other wing at a second juncture, and the positions of said junctures in their respective wings is such that when said wings are in substantial congruence said tension member is relatively tense, and when said wings are disposed in substantially equal angular intervals about said shaft, the tension in said tension member is at a minimum.

3. A device as defined in claim 2, wherein one of said junctures is on said hub portion, and the other juncture is on said airfoil portion.

'4. A device as defined in claim 2 wherein one of said junctures is defined by a notch on the leading edge of said airfoil portion, the other juncture is defined by a slot on said hub portion, and said tension member is an elongated member interconnecting said junctures.

5. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said shaft extends past at least one of said hubs to define a landing gear for said device.

6. A winged rotating device comprising three wings, each of said wings comprising a hub portion and an air foil portion, a shaft defining an axis of rotation for said wings and for said rotating device, an aperture in each of said hub portions for receiving said shaft,-at least two of said wings being rotatable about said shaft from a first position where each of said wings are in substantial congruence to a second position where they are in substantial equal angular intervals about said shaft so that said wings are adapted to support said device for rotation about said axis of rotation as said device descends, means including a plurality of tension members for displacing said wings to said second position, each of said tension members being connected between adjacent wings at junctures on said wings, the positions of said junctures on their respective wings being such that when said wings are in substantial congruence said tension members are relatively tense, and when said wings are disposed in substantially equal angular intervals about said shaft, the tension in said tension members is at a minimum.

tures comprise notches on said airfoil portions of said wings and slots on said hub portions of said wings, and said tension members are elongated members interconnected to said slots and said notches on adjacent wings. 

1. A winged rotating device comprising two wings, each of said wings comprising a hub portion and an air foil portion, a shaft defining an axis of rotation for said wings and for said rotating device, an aperture in each of said hub portions for receiving said shaft, at least one of said wings being rotatable about said shaft into substantial congruence with the other of said wings, means for displacing said wings from said substantial congruence, self-releasing means for temporarily retaining said wings in said substantial congruence against the force of said displacing means, said self-releasing means comprising a pin projecting from each of said wings, said pins being in mutual alignment when said wings are in substantial congruence and an elongated resilient member adapted to be wrapped around said pins, said displacing means being operative to position said wings at sUbstantially equal angular intervals about said shaft so that said wings support said device for rotation about said axis of rotation as said device descends.
 2. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said displacing means comprises a resilient tension member, said tension member having one portion connected to one of said wings at a first juncture, another portion connected to said other wing at a second juncture, and the positions of said junctures in their respective wings is such that when said wings are in substantial congruence said tension member is relatively tense, and when said wings are disposed in substantially equal angular intervals about said shaft, the tension in said tension member is at a minimum.
 3. A device as defined in claim 2, wherein one of said junctures is on said hub portion, and the other juncture is on said airfoil portion.
 4. A device as defined in claim 2 wherein one of said junctures is defined by a notch on the leading edge of said airfoil portion, the other juncture is defined by a slot on said hub portion, and said tension member is an elongated member interconnecting said junctures.
 5. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said shaft extends past at least one of said hubs to define a landing gear for said device.
 6. A winged rotating device comprising three wings, each of said wings comprising a hub portion and an air foil portion, a shaft defining an axis of rotation for said wings and for said rotating device, an aperture in each of said hub portions for receiving said shaft, at least two of said wings being rotatable about said shaft from a first position where each of said wings are in substantial congruence to a second position where they are in substantial equal angular intervals about said shaft so that said wings are adapted to support said device for rotation about said axis of rotation as said device descends, means including a plurality of tension members for displacing said wings to said second position, each of said tension members being connected between adjacent wings at junctures on said wings, the positions of said junctures on their respective wings being such that when said wings are in substantial congruence said tension members are relatively tense, and when said wings are disposed in substantially equal angular intervals about said shaft, the tension in said tension members is at a minimum.
 7. A device as defined in claim 6 wherein said juncture on one of said adjacent wings is in its airfoil portion, and said juncture on said other adjacent wing is on its hub portion.
 8. A device as defined in claim 6 wherein said junctures comprise notches on said airfoil portions of said wings and slots on said hub portions of said wings, and said tension members are elongated members interconnected to said slots and said notches on adjacent wings. 